The tactics of communism,

REV. MSGR FUITON J. SHEEN. D.D.

The Tactics of Communism

sr

Rt. Rev. Etfsgr. Fullon J. Sheen, D.D.

1'RlN.l n IMi PVIH-ISHE11 IN THE USmm :• t \H 9 ■ <) LKEHCA

THE PAUL1ST PRESS
New Ydii

THE TACTICS OF COMMUNISM

By

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Lltii..ARY
I APR 25 1945 1

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Rt. Rev. Msgr. Fulton J, Sheen, D.D.

I. Q. What ia the ultimate goal of Com-

munism ?

Reprinted by permission
of uTk* Sign"

A, The ultimate goal of Communism is the es-
tablishment "of world dictatorship of the prole-
tariat." (Page 34, Program of the Communist In-
ternational Workers' Library Publication, 1956.)

2* Q, How does Communism propose to es-
tablish itself?

A. By Revolution* "The Revolution does not
simply happen, it must be made" (Earl Browder,
What Is Communism?, p. 163.)

3. Q* Who makes the Revolution, the
worker or the Communist Party?

A. The Communist Party, "The Revolution is
carried out by the great masses of the toilers. The
Communist Party as the vanguard of the most
conscious toilers acts as their organizer and guide"
(Ibid,, p. 163.)

The Tactics of Common

ISM

4. Q. Does this Revolution take plncc si-
multaneously in all the countries of the world?

A. No. 'The Revolution cannot be conceived
as a single event occurring simultaneously all over

the world." (Program, p, 3J.)

5. Q. How does the Revolution take place?

A. It begins with a civil war which is the con-
dition of overthrowing the established order.
"Revolution signifies the forcible invasion of the
proletariat into the domain of property. . . . The
conquest of power by the proletariat is the violent
overthrow of * . . armies, police, bureaucratic
hierarchy, judiciary, parliaments, etc. (Program, p.
36.)

6. Q. Will violence continue even after the
civil war?

A, Yes, until everyone who is opposed to Com-
munism is crushed, "After the civil war has been
brought to an end, the stubborn class struggle con-
tinues in the form of a struggle between the sur-
vivors of previous economic systems/' (Ibid., p.
48.)

7* Q. Since Communism means the aboli-
tion of nil private property what will hnppcn to
the small landowners, peasant*, farmers and
the like?

The Tactics of Communism

J

A. They must be crushed with violence. The
"Proletariat . . . must mercilessly suppress the slight-
est opposition on the part of the village bourgeoisie

who ally themselves with the landowners." (Pro-
gram, p. 49.)

8. Q. What will happen to the city people
who own their own homes, e. g., the grocer, the
butcher or the saleman?

A. They are to be left their property for a while
"bo win them over" (Program, p. 49), but in the
end all private property must be abolished. (Pro-
gram, p. 30.)

9. Q. During this period of civil war when
private property is confiscated in the name of
the proletarian Revolution, who plays the lead-
tag roles — the Communist Party or the workers
whom it claims to aid?

A. "The Communist Party plays the hading
rdte" (Program, p. 51, italics in original.)

10. i}. Doc» that mean there will be any
oilier parly permitted in a country after the
establishment of Communism?

A. No, Communism tolerates no rival parties.
"The essential difference between the existence of
parties in the Western world and with us Commun-
ists, is that the sole possibility with Communism is

The Tactics of Common

ISM

the following: One party is in power and all the
others are in jail." (Troud, November 13, 1927.)
Troud is the official organ of the Central Commit-
tee of the Syndicate of Soviet Workers.

11. Q* Will the Communist Parly ever really
renounce its control over the workers?

A. No. The Communist Party will never re-
nounce the role of its direction and its revolution-
ary initiative. (International Correspondence,
August 5, 1955.)

12. Q. Against which groups will Com-
munism fight during the civil war in order to
establish the dictatorship of the Communist
Party?

A. Against (a) all forms of private property,
(b) against all religions, Jewish, Protestant, Cath-
olic, (c) and against all education except material-
istic. "The confiscation of alt property." (Program,
p. 40.) "Systematically and unswervingly combat-
ing religion," (Program, p. 53.) "Reconstruct
the whole of education on the basis of scientific ma-
terialism." (Program, p. J4.)

13. <}, Whom do the Communists regard as
the greatest forces standing in the way of world
revolution?

A. The main obstacles on the road toward the
establishment of the proletarian social revolution

Twe Tactics of Communism

are . . . Catholic trade unions, Y. M. C. A., Jewish
Zionist organizations. . . . The American Federa-
tion of Labor, etc. (Program, pp. 68 and 69.)

14. Q. Does the American Communist
Party have any relation with the International
Communist Party whose center is in Russia and
whose head is Stalin?

A. Earl Browder, the Secretary of the Com-
munist Party of the United States says no. "The
Communist Party does not take orders from Mos-
cow." {What Is Commnnism?3 p. 207*) This
statement, however, must be judged in relation to
the facts mentioned in the answers to questions
16-24.

15. Q. Must one be a member of the Inter*
national Communist Party to attend its annual
congresses in Moscow?

A. Yes. The Plenum of the Central Committee
of the Communist Party of the U. S. S. L, Decem-
ber 2 J, 1935, verified Party documents of members.
Only members may attend the sessions.

16. Q. Did Earl Browder ever attend a Con-
gress of the International Communist Parly in
Moscow?

A. Yes. On July 28, 1935, Earl Browder acted
as Chairman at the Seventh Session of the Seventh

8

The Tactics of Communism

Annual Congress of the International Communist
Party.

17. Q. Does Earl Browder have any other
relation with the International Communist
Party than that of being present at one of its
sessions ?

A. Yes, He is Vice-President of the Interna-
tional Communist Party. During the Seventh
Congress of the International Communist Party
Browder was criticized for not doing more to com-
munize the millions of American unemployed. So
impressed was he that he agreed to participate in a
special conference of Communist leaders whose aim
was to propagandize the unemployed of all coun-
tries.

18. Q. Did Earl Browder* while attending
the Congress of the International Communis!
Parly in Moscow, ever speak of the American
Communist Party and the Intcraatiomil Com-
munist Party aa a unit?

A. Yes. On July 18, 195 5, he questioned himself
and gave answer: "How was our party able to pene-
trate the masses and emerge from isolation? A
great role was played by leaders in the strike move-
ment and in the work of the party among the un-
employed, In some of the most important strikes,
the San Francisco general strike for one, the Com-

The Tacitcs of Communism

9

nmnist Party had a decisive, determining influ-
ence."

19. Q, Was any other member of the
American Communist Party admitted as a mem-
ber of the International Communist Party dur-
ing its Seventh Annual Congress?

A. Yes. Comrade Darcy. (International Cor-
respondence, October 7, 1935.)

20. Q. Hag the International Communist
Party of Moscow ever recommended that the
American Communists form a Fanner-Labor
Party, and establish n League against War and
Fascism?

A. Yes. The following is from the Third Inter-
national of Moscow. "Under American ^conditions
the creation of a mass party of toilers a 'Labor and
Farmer Party' might serve as a suitable form for
winning over the broad discontented masses of the
toilers. Such a party would be a specific form of
the mass people's front in America. . . . Such a
party, of course, will be neither Socialist nor Com-
munist. But it must be an ami-Fascist party, and
must not be an anti-Communist party." (G. Di-
mitrov, The Working Class Against Fascism, p. 45.
Italics are in the original.) "In no case must the
initiative or organizing the party be allowed to pass
into ... an anti-Communist party, a party directed
against the revolutionary movement." (Ibid,, p.

10 The Tactics of Communism

46.) 'The Communist International attaches no
conditions to unity of action except one, and that
an elementary condition acceptable for all workers,
namely thai unity of action can be directed against
Fascism, against the offensive of capital, against the
threat of war, against the class enemy. This is our
condition." (lbid.,p,}4. In italics in the original.)
21. Q. Has the American Communis
Party ever recommended the formulation of a
Fanner-Labor Party or the establishment of
Leagues against Fascism and War?

A. Yes. "¥c propose the coming together of
trade unions, unemployed organizations, the Town-
send Clubs, minority parties, such as Socialist and
Communist, into a broad, all-inclusive Farmer-
Labor Party." (Earl Browdcr, Lincoln and the
Communist, p. 13.) "We must give much more
support to the American League against War and
Fascism, which already represents the largest united
front ever built in America." (Ibid., p. 179.)
[Remember the words "United Front."]

22, Q. What docs the official organ of the
Executive Committee of die Communist Inter-
national say of those who say they take no
orders from Moscow?

A. "Those who say we do not cake orders from
Moscow are against the proletarian state. It proves
they arc allied to the bourgeoisie . , , and are the

The Tactics of Communism

11

enemy of the proletariat class To receive orders

from Moscow, as Dimitrov said, is to follow the
example of Lenin and Stalin." {htternaiimial Com-
wunistj French edition, August 5, 193 J.)

23. Q. How can Earl Browder be a bona fide
member of the International Communist Parly
mid act as Chairman at its International Con-
gress and still say he takes no orders from Mos-
cow?

A. There is nothing to prevent him from saying
it.

24. Q. Is the goal of American Comxnun-
i«m different from the goal of International
Communism?

A. No, in both the goal is the establishment of
the proletarian dictatorship by revolution. "In the
revolutionary situation the Communist Party * . •
wins some of the armed forces to its side, and leads
the effective majority of the population to the
seizure of State power. . . . Above all they need the
armed forces." (Earl Browdcr, What Is Com-
mtmism?, pp. 164 and 16 J.)

25* Q. What does the word "Fascism"
mean to a Communist?

A. It means anything that is anti-Communist.
Browdcr identifies it with the DuPonts and a "sys-
tem of murder and concentration camps for every-

12

The Tactics of Communism

one who raises his voice against exploitation and
oppression." (What Is Communism?, p. 106.) Di-
mitrov says it is "rabid reaction and counter-revo-
lution." (Working Class Against Fascism, p. 14.)
Note: In order to think clearly about Communism
it is well always to translate the word Fascism when-
ever they use it as anti -Communist. When the
Communist orator pleads for the union of the em~
ployed, or the unemployed, or the Negro, or stu-
dents to fight against Fascism, remember Fascism
to a Communist Is anti-Communism.

26. Q. la there a Fascist Parly in the United
States?

A. No.

27. Q. la there a Communist Party in the
United States?

A, Yes.

28. Q. Which then is the greater danger for
America?

A. Communism. It must be borne In mind that
the political problem of the world is not a choice
between Communism and Fascism. There are other
kinds of government besides the Fascist* for ex-
ample, our own American form. Rather the strug-
gle is between Communism and anti-Communism
whatever forms the latter may assume.

The Tactics of Communism

13

29* Q. Do the Communists say they are op-
posed to War?

A. Yes. Hence the formation of Leagues against

War.

30. Q. Are they really opposed to War?

A. They are certainly not opposed to civil war
for in the words of Lenin, Stalin and Browder: "We
must turn every imperialist war into a civil war/*
They are not opposed to civil wars and revolutions
which lead to Communism. Wars against Com-
munism to them are always wrong.

31. What do the Communists mean when
they use the word "Peace"?

A. Peace means the establishment of the Com-
munist regime. Peace under any other regime is
inconceivable to Communism. "The fight to main-
tain peace is a fight against Fascism, a fight that is
essentially revolutionary." (G. Dimitrov> The
United Struggle for Peacer p. 18, Workers' Library
edition.) "The anti war struggle of the mas?e*
must be very closely combined with the struggle
against Fascism [anti-Communism] and the Fascist
movement," (Resolutions of the Seventh Annual
Congress, International Correspondence, Septem-
ber 19, 1935, p. 1184. Brackets mine,)

32. Q. What are we to understand by Com-
munism presenting itself as the Enemy of War

14

The Tactics of Communism

and Fascism and the friend of the Farmer and
Laborer?

A. We are to understand that Communism has
changed not its principles, but its tactics. In order
to understand the difference let us assume that A is
a robber by profession. He decides to rob B, C and
D, forcibly entering their homes, hitting each
over the head with a bludgeon and then steal-
ing their possessions. He succeeds with B but finds
that C and D put up considerable opposition and
fight him off, and thereafter carry guns to prevent
a future robbery. A now decides to give up vio-
lence as a means of robbery. And so he plans to
rob E, F and G in a new way. He invites them to
dinner, tells them that he likes their families, their
children, goes to church with them, joins the same
golf clubs and then is finally invited into their homes
for a week-end during which he robs them. Note
that the principle of A's life would have remained
unchanged, but his tactics would have changed. He
would have used non-violent methods ro attain his
end.

Now this is what Communism is doing today.
It has found that its revolutionary approach has
been unsuccessful. Some countries have resisted
and organized, and so, it decides to change its tactics
and to use non-revolutionary approaches to attain
revolutionary ends.

The Tactics of Communism

H

33. Q. Did the change in tactics originate
in America or in Rusbib?

A. In Russia. It became a definite policy at the
Seventh Annual Congress of the Third Interna-
tional held in Moscow, July and August, 1935.
"The tactical line of the Seventh Congress corre-
sponds to the present level of the movement and
strength of the Communist parties/' (D. 2. Ma-
nuilsky, The Work of the Seventh Congress, p. 65.)

34. Q. What is the name given to- the new
tactics of Communism?

A. The "United Front" or "Common Front" or
"People's Front" or "Popular Front."

35. Q, How do the Communists propose to
overthrow the established order?

A. To this the Communist International replies:
"The first thing that must be done, the thing with
which we commence is to form a United Front."
(G. Dimitrov, report delivered to International
Congress, August 2, 195 J.)

36. Q. How does Communism form the
United Front?

A. "By securing predominant influences in the
broad mass proletarian organizations: Trade unions,
factory committees, cooperative societies, sport or-
ganizations, cultural organizations, etc. . , - the

16 The Tactics of Communism

masses of che urban and rural poor, over the lower
strata of the intelligent, and over the so-called

little man*." (Program of the Communist Inter-
national, p. 77.) "Communists must establish die
closest cooperation with those Left social-democratic
workers, functionaries and organizations that fight
against the reformist policy and advocate a United
Front with the Communist Party" {Report of the
Executive Committee of the Communist Interna-
tional, August I, 1935. Original in italics.)

37. Q, Do the United Front luetics mean
that during an election the Communists should
unite with any major party to prevent the clcc-
«jon of anti^Coinmmiistic candidates, even
though the Communists hate a ticket or a candi-
date themselves?

A. Yes. "The Communists must seek to estab-
lish a United Front with the social-democratic par-
ties and trade unions (also with the organizations of
the toihng workers, handicraftsmen, etc.), and
exct every effort to prevent the election of reac-
tionary and Fascist [anti-Communist] candidates.
In face of the Fascist [anti-Communist] danger,
the Communists, while reserving for themselves
freedom of political agitation and criticism, partici-
pate in election campaigns on a common platform
and with a common ticket of the anti-Fascist front,
depending on the growth and success of the United

The Tactics of Communism

17

Front movement, also depending on the electoral
system in operation." (Resolutions of the Seventh
Annual Congress of the International Communist
Party, International Correspondence, September
19, 1955, p. 1179. Italics and parenthesis in the
original; brackets mine.)

38. Q. Would the United Front tactic*
mean that Communism would seek to enter
Catholic organizations in order to secure "pre-
dominant influence"?

A. Yes. "It would exert a powerful influence
on the ranks of the Catholics, anarchists and unor-
ganized workers, even on those who had temporarily
become the victims of Fascist [anti-Communist]
demagogy." (G. Dimitrov, The Working Class vs.
Fascism, p. 32. Italics in original; brackets mine.)

39. Q. Do the United Front tactics apply
even to the Youth?

A. Yes. "The central task of the Youth Com-
munist International is to establish -unity of the
youth movement against Fascism and war" (O,
Kuusinen in his address to the Seventh World Con-
gress, "The Youth Movement and the Fight Against
Fascism and the War Danger," Russian edition.
Printshop No. 7, Moscow, p. 24. Italics in origi-
nal.) "If the representatives of the Young Com-
munists League of the United States had not known

18 The Tactics of Communism

how to approach the student youth in a comradely
fashion it would have been impossible for them to
have developed their great united front action
among the students, the most important of which
was the big student's strike against war and Fascism

°n .f '2' 19M' in Which 184'000 *"*»» ^oh
part." (Ibid,, p. u.)

40. Q. Do the United Front tactics mean
that the masse* are to be gradually led to revo-

A. Yes. 'The Communist Parties must advance
partml slogans and demands that correspond to the
everyday needs of the toilers, linking them up with
the fundamental tasks of the Communist Intcrna-
™' . (Prof ara> P- «* italics in original.)
Ihroughout the entire pre-t ■evolutionary period
a most .mportant basic part of the tactics of the
Communist Parties is the tactics of the united
front. (Program, p. 82, italics in original.)

41. Q. The United Front in then only a start-
ing point for Revolution?

A. Yes, The Party utilizes their minor every-
day needs as a starting point from which to lead
the working class to the revolutionary struggle for
power. (Program, p. 80, italics in original.)

42. Q. The change in tactics then doea not
mean that Communism has changed?

The Tactics of Communism

19

A. No. "Tactics, generally may change, but the
general line of the Communist International, the
proletarian revolution, remains unchanged." (D,
/ Mmuilsky, The Work of the Seventh Congress,
p, 6J.) "We must fight for the unification of all
revolutionary forces on the basis of our program
i »f strategy, and then pass to the offensive on all
fronts." (La Correspondence Internationale, Au-
Kust 3, 193 J.)

43. Q. When do the Communists propose
lo reveal their revolutionary principles?

A. "When Marx's writings have had some years
of influence, the next International will be directly
Communist and will openly proclaim its princi-
ples." (The Correspondence of Marx and Engels,
p. 330.)

44. Q. What pledge did Maxim Litvinoff
give on behalf of the U. S. S. R. when the United
Shuck recognized Soviet Russia on November
16, 1933?

A. "To refrain, and to restrain all persons in gov-
ernment service and all organizations of the gov-
ernment . . . from any act, overt or covert, liable in
any way whatsoever to injure the tranquillity and
prosperity, order or security, of the whole or any
part of the United States."

20 The Tactics of Communism

45. Q. Wliat U f .iiviMc.lT reported to have

iaicl lo fellow Communists nflcr the siSiimS of
the pledge?

A. "Notice th.it the pledge did not exclude the
activities of the Third International."

46. Q. Does Earl Brotrder love America?

A. He says he docs. "We Communists love our
country." {IbiJ., p. 13.) See answer to question

47. Q. Do the Communists ailvocate vio-
lence?

A. Tf you will forget the above quotation con.
corning revolution the answer of Earl Browder is
m the negative, "Communists do not advocate vio-
lence.'' (Ihid., p. 166.) Sec answer to questions

24 and 4?,

4Q. Q. What is the coiulition of joining the
Communist International of which Earl Brow-
der is Secretary?

A 'To create everywhere an illegal organization
machine which at tire decisive moment wll] be help-
ful to the Communist Party in fulfilling its duty i0
the revolution." (O. Piantnisky, Twenty-one Con-
ditions of Admission to the Communist Interna-
tional.)

The Tactics of Communism

21

49. Q* Did Earl Browder, despite hi-n love of
America, advocate the United Front tactics to
Win over the sailors and soldiers to foment
revolution in America?

A. Yes. "Soldiers and sailors can be and must
be won for the revolution. All revolutions have
been made with weapons which the overthrown
rulers have relied on for their protection/' (What
is Communlm?r p. 16?> italics in original.)

50. Q. Has the International Communist
Party over recommended such a method?

A, Yes. "In seeking to prepare the transforma-
tion of a future imperialist war into civil war,
Communists must in every country concentrate
their efforts on the essential portions of the im-
perialist military machine." (Thirteenth Plenary
Session of the Executive Committee of the Co-
mitcrn, December, 19*3, cfr„ International Corre-
spondence, 1934, Nos. 1 and 2. The Communist,
February, 1934, p. 140.)

51. Q. In obedience to the instruction* of
ilie Communist International what periodicals
are circulated to incite revolution in the Army
imd Navy?

A. The Soldier's Voice, the Shipmate's Voice and
the Navy Yard Worker,

22

The Tactics op Communism

n5ta ?' U tLe Conui>wu»ta in virtue of the

wthin such groups as the Y. M. C. A., church
groups, athletic organizations, trade unions
etc etc., to whom will the control of |]ie op^
gamzation belong?

A, "In the United Front the Communists must
always preserve the role of director. ... The Corn-
munist Party will never renounce its role of director
and its revolutionary initiative." (U Correspond-
enceInternationale, August J, 193 J.)

53. Q. Do the new tactics mean that Com-
rnunism has forgotten it* revolutionary goal
and that .t has given way to peaceful reforn, or
the continuation of American institutions?

A. No. "Only downright scoundrds ... hope-
less idiots can think that by means of the United
J-ront tactics Communism is capitulating to Social
Democracy." (D, 2. Manuilsky, The Work of the
Seventh Congress, p, J9.)

if tt'uQv **?* r?** thal make m Americans
if we believe the United Front tacths?

A. See answer to question 53.

55. Q. Has Earl Browder's boot, What h
Lommunum?, any relation to the Third Inte*.

The Tactics of Communism

23

national, despite his word that he "does not
lake orders from Moscow9*?

A. The official organ of the Executive Commit-
tee of the Communist International states? "Com-
rade Browder's book is an excellent contribution to
the ideological propaganda and agitational work of
the Communist Party in the United States of
America. The book may be considered a direct re-
sult of the work performed by the Communist In-
ternational under the leadership of Comrade Di-
mitrov." (Page 816, June, 1936.)

56, Q. Which do the American people fear
more: the man who makes a frontal attack
with a sword, or the man who runs a knife in
your back?

A. The American people dislike deceit even un-
der the name of tactics. It would therefore be well
to be on our guard against Communismj which offi-
rially states! "We want to attack our class enemies
in the rear.1* (O. Kuusinen, "Youth Movement."
Speech delivered at Seventh World Congress, Au-
gust 17, 1935, Russian edition, p. 31.)

57. Q. How did Our Blessed Lord warn the
world against such tactics?

A. "Beware of false prophets who come to you

24 The Tactics of Communism

in the clothing of sheep, but inwardly they are
ravening wolves.*1 (Matt. vii. 1 J.)

58. Q- "YHio was the first one in the history
of Christianity to use the tactics of the Uniled
From?

A. Judas, by betraying Our Lord with a kiss.

59. Q. Why did Judas In-tray hy a kiss?

A. Because Judas knew that Divinity was sacred,
iliit iicould be overthrown only by some external
mark rf affection.

60, Q, Why do Communists use the United
Front tactics?

A. Because they know certain things in our
American life are so sacred, namely, our govern-
ment, aur right to property, our right to liberty
and our right to freedom of conscience, that they
can be overthrown only by a mark of affection—
by pretending they arc our friends.

61. Q. How long will Communism be suc-
cessful with its new tactics hi the United
States?

A. M long as Americans are gullible enough to

be deceived. , im

Study these ™,.H,„, pamphtfu, „„,( ualrh jor „„„ one>
Khwk we will publish shortly „n Communism'. .

A CATECHISM OF COMMUNISM FOR
CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

A PASSIONIST FATHER

JUST WHAT IS COMMUNISM?

REV, RAYMOND T. FEELY, S.J.

COMMUNISM AND MORALS

<fot»o,l, uthd "Moral, and Meow")
REV. RAYMOND T. FEELV, S.J.

FASCISM, COMMUNISM, THE U. S. A

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THE TACTICS OF COMMUNISM

RT. REV. MSGR. FULTON J. SHEEN, Ph.D.

LIBERTY UNDER COMMUNISM

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COMMUNISM ANSWERS QUESTIONS

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RT. REV. MSGR. FULTON J. SHEEN, Ph.D.

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SPAIN'S STRUGGLE AGAINST ANARCHISM
AND COMMUNISM

REV. 6ENADJUS DIEZ, O.S.B.

5 cent, eod,, $3,50 Mm 100, $30.00 the 1,000, «,Pio9.

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